'"We've played well offensively, but we just didn't have any production," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "This is a young team, and we're going to grow together. Tonight showed what we can accomplish when we are clicking."'

'Now that Mikael Tellqvist has had a bad taste of the NHL, it is rather clear to the young goaltender he had better get a piece of the action in the AHL. The Maple Leafs rookie allowed six goals on 28 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in an exhibition game at Copps Coliseum last night and acknowledged afterward he needs to apprentice with St. John's.'

'The power-play problems continued for the Sabres, who went 0 for 6 in Thursday's 3-1 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Among Buffalo's missed power plays Friday night was a failed five-on-three advantage.'

'"I never got the feeling that they might give me a real chance," Noronen, 22, said yesterday after the Sabres reassigned him to the Rochester Americans. He was a spectator for last night's 3-0 preseason loss to the Cleveland Barons but he'll start tonight's 7:35 exhibition finale against the Manitoba Moose at the ESL Sports Centre. "They said I didn't have that good of a camp, but what's the point if I wasn't going to get a chance anyway," Noronen said. "In practice I just tried to find my game."'

'Buffalo has 27 players on its roster, and about 21 slots are spoken for. Prior to Thursday night's 3-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre, Ruff said one position at forward and another on defense were still up for grabs.'

'"I'm very excited," said Biron, who was the Sabres starter in last night's 3-1 loss to the Maple Leafs in pre-season action at the Air Canada Centre. "I'm the guy who gets the most exposure because I'm doing what Dom did, but my expectations are higher for myself than anyone can imagine. I know I can do the job; I just want to prove it to everyone else."'